New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-05
MRS. JAMES BROWN POTTER.
HER ENGAGEMENT AT THE HAYMARKET
THEATRE.
IN TAKES THE ROLE OF ANN sILvEsTER" IN
IMAM AND wIFEn-TERNs GIVEN her
~'> uNpRECEDENTED-wHAT M. DE-
LAUNAY SAYS OF THE
DRBUTANTE.

-' UNpRECEDENTED-wHAT N. DE-
LAUNAY SAYS OF THE
DRBUTANTE.
fay CABLE TO THE TRBUNE.1
<,opvv,oa 1887, North american Gable Ntrs CO.
LONDON, March 4.-Mrs. James Brown Pot'er
uigned, an hour ago, a contract with Messrs. nus
oall and BashfOrd, managers OF the HaymarKet
Theatre 30 act at that theatre during the current
ssason. Negotiations to this end began before
Mrs Potter left Versailles. Her journey to Lon
DON was in fact undertaken at their invitation.
Mr. Bancroft, formerly manager, now landlord OF
the Haymarket, who had met Mrs. Potter In
London last season and heard her recitc, met her
again in Paris some weeks ago. The first proposals
name through him. Since her arrival In London
last Monday various offers have been mace her
and declined. Mrs Potter's wish was to appear
ON the stage in London, where she Is so well
known, but not unless In circumstances which
offered o favorable opening for an artistic career.
Her views, which were stated OF the beginning OF
tho negotiations have never varied Mcssrs Rus
sell and Bashford, not fully acquainted with her
position, perhaps, thought them unusual lot n
Bady making her debut on the stase, and were
1t first disposed to consider her an amateur at-
tempting o novel experiment. They proposed 10
her TO rehcarso @ recital on the Haymarket stage
much as an Operatic manager desires 70 near 'he
voice of o new singer before making an ehsase-
ment. Mrs. Potter assentcd to This, went thfough
Q scene of the play presently TO DC produccd, ana
recited also one of her more dramatic pieces, and
from that moment they appear to have had no
other desire than to secure her ON the best pos
sible terms Proposals were laid before Mrs. Pot
ter this afternoon identical with those she herself
had first stated, and they were accepted Ihey
are believe, more favorable and profitable 10 her
than any terms ever offered to any actress IN
similar circumstances. They arc beyond whao
is usual for actresses of the first rank ana are In
fact without precedent on the English stage.
It is due to Messrs. Russell and Bashford TO say
that while naturally looking after their own IN
terests, they have throughout shown Mrs. Potter
every consideration and have now recognized
frankly, the wholly exceptional position she occu-
pies
The contract as signed is satisfactory to both
parties. Mrs Potter takes her place as leading
lody at one of tho first three theatres in London,
ahe only one of the three which, owing to isonal
reasons, was open to her in that way. Obviously
while Ellen Terry remains at the lyceum' ana
AIRS Kendall at St. Jamcs's, there is no room Tor a
rival near either throne which those admirable
artists occupy, each in her own theatre. The
H&SmaIket stands on level with the other two
theatres and is in the hands OF capable energeuc
managers who are strongly backed IL has
At, ong company, capable Of handling either comedy
tho whole the most elegant Of the London theatres
in fitting and decorations. Mrs. Potter finds her
self at the start surrounded with every aid TO
success which the English stage can offer She
has never desired, or intended to take theatre
or organize a company for herself in London.
"The Daily Telegraph" this morning publishes
the statement that failing the engagement at the
Haymarket of which they had heard some rumor
airs. Potter might take they ety Theatre FOR
the summer season with her own troupe. There
is not the least foundation for this statement III
Airs. Potter had not concluded such an engagement
@ she desired for London. she would simply have
gone back to Paris, continued her studies during
The summer and opened in Newly next autumn
,.The telegraph writer says: "The Haymarllet
IA likely to be the scene Of an experiment inter
esting to society but debatable in the immediate
interegts of artp That sounds like tho echo OF
Jealous professional protest which has been heard
before now when some ornament of society adopted
The stage as a profession. Its author knows
nothing OF Mrs. Pottcr's career. studies or eX-
perience.
/ Quoted the other day NJ. Delaunay's opinion
of Mrs. Potter. He has since seen more OF her In
classic French roles and his final Judgment is that.
II she chose to spend little time In pcr1eoihs
her French accent. the doors OF The 1heatre
rrancais would open to her at once, and she
he welcomed as a member of its Incompatible
romnanv who would find no nval in many lead
ing parts.
The character in which Mrs. Potter will mako
her first appearance in London Is Ann Sylvester in
Milixie Collinss play Of "Man and Wife. Ibis
play was founded on the celebrated Yelverton
case. Ann Sylvester is @ governess and resembles
in many points Denise in the play OF Alexander
Dumas fls Of that name, brought out two years
ego at the Theatre Francais and created by
Madame Bartel "Man and Wife was played OF
the Prince OF Wales Theatre In 1873 under the
then management Of Mr.. Bancroft. who scored q
great success as Geofirey Delamayne. Mcssrs.
Russell and Bashford have had a revival under
consideration for some time. but finally, unable to
find 4 new piece to bring out, at once offered
the part of Ann Silv ester to Mrs. Potter and she
accented it, though it is not quite the character
in which shc would have preferred to appear.
The piece will be put in rehearsal tomorrow and
produced as soon as possible, probably three
weeks hence. Two other plays are under con-
alteration, and 1t is intended to produce one, or
both, during Mrs. Potter's engagement. This
London arrangement viii not interfere in any
way with her American tour beginning next
autumn. She has not yet closed with any Of the
PROPOSALS made her by American managers, but
her plans remain unchanged. She will not In any
event prolong her stay in London beyond July.
There has been as yet no authorized public an
nouncemcnt in London Of Mrs. pOtter's entrance
upon the stage. The fact has become known TO
some extent in society and creates little interest
in that fashionable world which adopted her and
admired her and her recitations last season.
q. W. 8.
rryNCI BOMBARDED AND TAKEN BY PORTUGUESE.
LONDON March 4--News has been received OF the cap
no4fh fOrtr
Raw Of Tune and the occupation Of the bay Mamaral.
p.ttx native chief In at the head Of the present uprs